Serious allegations of reckless extortion have been made against the traffic department of Jhalakathi district police. Several sources related to transport said that although this irregularity stopped about a year ago, extortion has started actively again recently.
Based on such allegations, Jhalakathi Police Superintendent Md. Mizanur Rahman took immediate action. The accused Sergeant Hasan was removed from duty on Sunday (January 11) afternoon and attached to the police line.
The incident has brought relief to the general transport owners and workers. However, they have demanded increased surveillance of the overall behavior and activities of the traffic department. Sensational information has been found during the investigation into serious allegations of extortion against the traffic police on the roads of Jhalakathi city and its surroundings. Our investigation has shown that 500 parcel transports, 500 tomtoms, 500 easy bikes, 300 microbuses for hire, 70 long-distance buses of 500 each and 500 and 1000 are being regularly collected as extortion money from various companies. The concerned claim that an organized gang is embezzling more than lakhs of taka from these sectors every month.
On the other hand, 200 to 1000 taka in cash is collected from every pickup and truck entering Jhalakathi from other districts every day. The extortion festival goes on from morning to evening at the city's Krishnakathi petrol pump intersection, and at night at the Guest Community Center or BRAC intersection at College intersection. The money is collected by stopping vehicles in these areas and threatening to file a case in the name of checking documents.
Although the accused Sergeant Hasan was removed and closed in the police line earlier, the complainants claim that the main extortion gang is still active. Currently, Traffic Inspector (TI) Rahmat is alleged to be the main person in this illegal trade.
(TI) Rahmat is accused of stealing lakhs of taka worth of goods from various companies in the city, including vehicles, CNG, autorickshaws, and tandoori. When contacted by journalists regarding this allegation, Traffic Inspector (TI) Rahmat refused to give an interview and said, "Senior sir has a ban on talking to the media."
People have sought the intervention of the top echelons of the administration. Several drivers said, "The police take money without filing a case, harass them if they don't. How long will this injustice continue?"
A leader of a micro stand, who did not want to be named, said that Traffic Sergeant Hasan would call every day after the 5th of the month and say, "This bad guy will do the market at my house, can you give me the money for the bit?"
Allegations of extortion against the traffic department have intensified in Jhalakathi. Investigation revealed that traffic police member TSI Tushar collected money from the police stations of Ashpar, Dapadpiya, Rajapur, and Kathalia in the district and Yusuf regularly collected bribes from the covered vans of various companies by visiting various points in the city.
On the other hand, the recently removed Sergeant Hasan not only collected bribes, but also established control over the bus terminals and microbus stands and illegally collected money from the drivers there. He even sold government requisition slips himself, which indicates serious irregularities.
In this regard, the top officer of the Jhalokati District Police, Police Superintendent Md. Mizanur Rahman, said, "We have zero tolerance against corruption. One person has already been closed. If specific allegations are found against anyone in the future, punitive action will be taken against him." The general public and the civil society of Jhalokati have demanded quick action by the administration against such irregularities and ensuring transparency in the traffic department.
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